TAMPA, Fla.-What’s happening? Mark Trumbo will play his first game of the spring when the Orioles play the Toronto Blue Jays today in Sarasota.
Trumbo, who had surgery on his right knee last September, will be the designated hitter.
“We’re going to give it a shot,” Trumbo said. “There’s not really anything left but going out there and getting in the game.”
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Trumbo is not likely to play in the field this spring.
There are 12 days between now and the end of the Grapefruit League schedule, and Trumbo is philosophical about whether he’ll have enough game action to get ready to start the season.
“That’s what we’ve got,” Trumbo said. “Ideally, a bit more would be great, but I’m just happy we’ve got some to work with.”
Manager Brandon Hyde said Trumbo would see limited action. “We’re going to give him a couple of at-bats,” Hyde said. “Hopefully, he comes out of the game feeling great, and we’ll kind of reassess from there on his schedule the next two weeks.
“All of his tests, everything he’s been doing the last couple of weeks, has been phenomenal.”
Hyde won’t play Trumbo on Thursday.
Andrew Cashner will face Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman and is scheduled to be followed by Yefry Ramirez, Cody Carroll, Evan Phillips and Tanner Scott.
Alex Cobb, who hasn’t pitched in a Grapefruit League game since March 5th, will go “four-plus” innings in his next start, Hyde said. Cobb’s wife had a baby on March 8, and he threw a simulated game instead of starting.
Outfielder DJ Stewart was sent to Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday.
“We have a huge number of outfielders,” Hyde said. “We like DJ a lot, and he played really, really well. I love his style of play, and he epitomizes what we’re going to be about. Defense is very, very important to him. He hustles.”
Hyde thinks Stewart needs more at-bats, and he’ll get them in minor league camp. He’ll begin the season at Triple-A Norfolk.
Yusniel Diaz, who was reassigned to minor league camp, also suffered from the outfield glut, and the Orioles want him to play regularly at minor league camp.
Catcher Austin Wynns’ sore left oblique continues to improve, and he could play next week, Hyde said.
What’s happened?— Chris Davis returned to action after missing eight days because of a strained left hip flexor, and was 1-for-2 in the Orioles’ 8-7 loss to the New York Yankees.
Davis struck out looking in the first inning and had an opposite-field RBI single in the second. He was removed after two at-bats.
Davis is 2-for-14 with eight strikeouts.
“I need to play a little bit more,” Davis said. “I think we’ll be able to do what we need to do for me to be ready over the next couple of weeks.”
Davis said that he was purposefully taking more pitches than he would in the regular season.
“Early on, I wanted to see as many pitches as I could,” he said. “It’s tough in spring training because a lot of times you have at-bats against guys who are trying to make the team or guys that are trying to make an impression, and you take two pitches, and you’re down 0-2. But I think for me, the biggest thing is just getting into a rhythm, getting into a position where I feel like I’m seeing the ball well, even if I’m taking a lot of pitches, even if I’m taking a lot of called strikes…That was my plan going in, and the next few weeks, it’s time to start swinging a little bit.”
Hyde said that Davis is not on the same schedule as Trumbo.
“Chris has just got limited at-bats,” Hyde said. “He had a hip that took a little bit of time, and he’s recovered from that. The next two weeks, we have to get him some at-bats.”
After throwing 10 scoreless innings, Mike Wright allowed two runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings against the Yankees’ front-line players.
“That’s a power lineup,” Wright said. “When I was [pitching against Boston], they had a lot of their ‘A’ guys, too. Same test as that. Being on the road, being a night game, it was pretty exciting.”
John Means gave up three runs on four hits in two innings following Wright. Nate Karns and Richard Bleier pitched scoreless innings, but Mychal Givens gave up three runs in the eighth while retiring just one batter.
“His stuff looked really good,” Hyde said. “His velo was up. I just thought he missed in the middle part of the plate a couple of times, and they were really aggressive with him. He didn’t look like he was commanding…It just wasn’t his night.”
Austin Hays had a three-run double and hit his fourth home run of the spring.
What’s up with? Branden Kline. He’s allowed two runs on three hits, striking out seven and walking one in 3 2/3 innings in his first major league camp.
Kline, who’s never pitched above Double-A, has seen two rounds of cuts, but he remains on the camp roster.
“It’s been serious time since I’ve been here,” Kline said. “My main point this offseason is come into camp ready to go, ready to compete for a spot. The fact that I’m still here gives me a pretty good chance, I think.”
What’s what? Ryan Mountcastle, who was also reassigned to minor league camp, got his first professional experience at first base during early Grapefruit League games.
Hyde said Mountcastle will see playing time at first and third, and that his throws from third improved in the last couple of weeks.
What’s the word? “At some point, you have to go out and see what you’ve got. There’s no further hurdles that would give any better indication than game action.”-Trumbo on his rehab
What’s the number? 11. Hays has 11 RBIs this spring to lead the Orioles.
What’s the record? 9-8-2. The Orioles play the Toronto Blue Jays at Ed Smith Stadium at 1:05 p.m.
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